Liquid carrier with disposable flexible inner liner container



s. F. FAuNcE 3,137,415

WITH DISPOSABLE FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR STUART F. FAUNCE imn.

LIQUID CARRIER June 16, 1964 Filed June 19, 1962 FIG 1 June 16, 1964 s. F. FAUNCE CARRIER WITH D LE INNER LINER CON 3,137,415 ISPOSABLE TAINER LIQUID FLEXIB Filed June 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fwn-nit INVENTOR STUART F. FAUNCE BY ATTORNEY June 16, 1964 s. F. FAUNCE 3,137,415 ,LIQUID CARRIER WITH DISPOSABLE FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER Filed June 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR STUART F. FAUNCE 6l ATTORNEY June 16, 1964 s. F. FAuNcE 3,137,415

LIQUID CARRIER WITH DISPOSABLE FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 19, 1962 FeG.v 9

INVENTOR STUART F. FAUNCE B Nv ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,137,415 LIQUID CARRIER WITH DISPOSABLE FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER Stuart F. Faunce, Fanwood, NJ., assignor to .lohn Wood Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 19, 1962, Ser. No. 203,619

` 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-183) My invention relates to a rigidly formed carrier which is provided with a separate disposable single use ilexible inner liner container. My improved carrier is adaptable for use in the transportation of liquids and in the dispensing of liquids contained in the disposable flexible inner liner container.

A form of my invention is particularly adaptable as a carrier and container for milk, or similar liquids, which is dispensed from a well-known type of valve controlled dispenser cabinet, such as is in common use in restaurants, lunch rooms, etc., of the general type shown, for example, in Norris et al. Patent No. 2,681,747; Tamminga Patent No. 2,718,985; and Kestenbaum Patent No. 2,549,- 207. The milk dispensers shown therein include a bulk milk can of general conventional structure, usually manufactured from stainless steel or tinned steel, which is provided at its bottom portion with a discharge nipple to which is secured a single use flexible dispensing tube made of sterilized synthetic rubber or other elastic material. The dispensing tube when attached initially is sealed at its outer end and adapted to be positioned through a dispensing pinch-cock valve assembly mounted in the cabinet. After the tube has so been positioned in the valve assembly, the outer end is cut olf to permit the milk in the container to be dispensed through the manually operated valve means into the receptacle used by a consumer of the milk. t

More recently, a disposable single use outer cardboard container provided with an inner flexible liner container has been utilized in such milk cabinets in lieu of the previously used stainless steel bulk milk cans. Such cardboard single use carriers have been found to be objecboard carrier on the very thin polyethylene liner iilled at the processing plant with live or six gallons of milk.

One object of my invention is to provide a carrier, adapted for use with a single use iiexible inner liner container, which may be used repeatedly and with a normal relative long life.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier of a construction which permits the nesting of the carriers, one within the other, to minimize. the amount of storage space required for the supply of such carriers at the processing plant, and also to minimize the amount of space required on trucks, etc., for return of the carriers from the place of use to the processing plant for reuse. k Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier with means in the top cover of the carrier and the upper portion of the carrier to permit facile manual handling of the carriers when moved for transportation and when being positioned in a milk dispenser cabinet.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier Ice which is light in weight, durable, and which may readily be subjected to cleaning process at the processing plant.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier which may be formed from rigidV material of a wide variety of colors, which may be used as identifying means for unrelated processing plants.

Another object of my invention is to provide a repeatedly usable carrier which will materially reduce the per gallon transportation and handling costs to a milk processing plant in comparison with the kcosts involved with a single use cardboard carrier.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter specified.

Referring to said drawings, FIG. 1 is a front elevation of my improved carrier, with the top cover thereof removed.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the carrier shown in FIG. 1, but with the topv cover included.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the carrier shown in FIG. 1. v s

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the cover member shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the cover shown in FIG. 4, taken on the line 5 5 in FIG..4.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a modified form of carrier, but withthe cover removed.

FIG. 7 is a top planv view of the structure shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional' view, partly in elevation, of the flexible tube retaining means in- `dicated in FIGS.v 6 and 7, and taken on the line 8.--8 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the cover adapted to be positioned on the top of the carrier shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the top cover shown in FIG. 9, taken on the line 10-10 inFlG. 9. Y Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive; the outer carrier, indicated generally by the reference mark 1, may be formed of a number of rigid materials' and be ofvarious coniigurations, preferably polygonal. The carrier of my invention shown by way of illustration in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, is generally rectangular in shape and formed from plastic material, such as molded, or otherwiseformed, polyethylene. If my improved rectangular carrier be used in a milk dispenser cabinet which isrectangular in shape, my carrier, Vof the same overall dimensions as a five gallon cylindrical bulk milk can of general conventional conguration, will have a capacity of six gallons of milk as compared with the live gallon capacity of the conventional bulk milk-can. v

My carrier includes an upper portion 2, and a lower portion 3 which is of congruent configuration of lesser outside dimensions than the upper portion 2, so that the carriers 1 when empty lmay beV stacked, or nested, one within the other. Y y I If the carrier be made of translucent plastic material, I have found it desirable to include a series of graduations 5, on the front side of the carrier, convenientlyv marked in gallons and intermediate quart markings, so that the contents of the liquid in the carrier may be observed readily. K

The sides of the carrier 1 are indented to provide smaller dimensional portions 6, which afford hand holes for manually moving the carrier vfor transportation and for loading it into a milk dispenser.

A transverse wallV 7 is provided at the bottom 8 of the carrier 1, which wall 7 forms an open space 1G between'the bottom 8 and the transverse wall 7. As indicated in FIG. 2, a pocket 12 having a front opening 13 is formed integrally with the transverse bottom wall 7.

The carrier 1 is provided with a top cover 15 of a configuration adapted to iit snugly on the uppermost part 16 of the carrier. I ind it convenient to provide the cover 15 with a series of reinforcing portions 1S, which prevent warping of the top cover 15 when formed of molded polyethylene, as is best shown in FIGS. and 4. The top cover `is provided at its sides with hand hole openings 20 which line up with and match the hand hole openings 6 in the upper portion 2 of the carrier 1.

'I'he carrier 1 is adapted for use with a single use flexible inner liner container 23 which is inserted in the carrier 1 and extends from the top thereof to the bottom transverse wall 7. The disposable single use iiexible inner liner container 23 may be formed from a iilm of a number of non-porous tlexible organic or inorganic materials. I have found it desirable to form such disposable inner liners from 3-mi1 or 4-mil polyethylene. inner liner container 23 is provided with a nipple or ferrule 25 having an opening therethrough in open cornmunication with the bottom inside of the inner liner 23.

The inner end of a iiexible dispensing tube 27 is tightly tted on the outside of the ferrule 25. The outer end of the flexible tube 27 is sealed, the sealed outer end being cut oit Whenready for use to permit milk, or other liquid, in the container to be dispensed through a manually operated valve means (not shown) through which the dispensing tube 27 is positioned. The bottom wall 7 is vpro'- vided with an opening 28 through which the ferrule 25 and attached dispensing tube 27 extend into the compartment 12. In transportation from a processing plant to the place of use, the sealed flexible dispensing tube 27 is coiled up and positioned Within the contines of the pocket 12 formed in the bottom recessed portion 10 of the container 1. If desired, the opening 13 of the cornpartment 12 may be provided with a readily removable and disposable cover (not shown), so that the dispensing tube 27 may be retained in a sterile sanitary manner during transportation from the processing plant to the place of use. l

The disposable inner liner container 23 is preferably open at its top end so that said liner container 23 may be filled with huid, such as milk, at the processing plant. After filling, the top of the liner 23 may be gathered together and tightly closed by any convenient means, as indicated at 30, in'FIG. 1. If the inner liner 23 bey formed of lpolyethylene lrn, the open end, after filling, may be heat sealed in the manner Well-known in the art.

Referring to the modiiied form of my invention shown in FIGS. 6 to l0 inclusive; the disclosed modified form of my invention is shown by way of illustration as being generally similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, and may be formed from rigid plastic material, such as molded or otherwise formed, polyethylene.` The outer carrier, indicated generally by the reference mark 35, is generally rectangular in shape, and includes an upper portion 36, and a'lower portion 37 which is of congruent coniiguration of slightly lesser outside dimensions than the inside dimensions of the upper portion 36, so that the carrier when empty may be stacked, or nested, one within the other in the same manner as heretofore described with reference to the carrier 1. If the carrier 35 be made of translucent plastic material, a series of graduations (not shown), may be included on the front side of the carrier, in the same manner as the form of my invention heretofore described.

The front side 38 and the rearside 4t) of the carrie 35' are provided with smaller dimensional portions 41 which afford hand holes for moving the carrier forY transportation, and for loading the carrier into a milk dispenser cabinet. A transverse wall 42 is provided in the The bottom of the 4 bottom portion 43 of the carrier35, which Wall 42 forms an open space 45 between the bottom 43 and the transverse Wall 42.

The carrier is provided with a top cover 46 of a configuration adapted to t snugly on the uppermost part 47 of the carrier 35. The cover 46 is provided with a series of reinforcing portions 5i) at the four corners of the cover,

the reinforcing portions being adapted to prevent warping of the top cover 46 when formed of molded polyethylene.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the top cover 46 is provided at its front and rear sides with hand hole openingsV 52 which line up with and match the hand hole openings 41 in the top portion 54 of the carrier 35.

The carrier 35 is adapted for use with a single use inner liner container 56 which'is inserted in the carrier 35 and extends from the top thereof to the bottom transverse ,wail 42. The disposable single-use flexible inner liner container 56 may be formed from a film of a number of nonporous exible organic or inorganic materials, forexample, 3-mil or 4-mil polyethylene. The bottom of the inner liner container 56 is provided. with a nipple or ferrule 60, similar to the ferrule 25 of the form of my invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive. The ferrule 60 has an opening therethrough in open communication with the bottom inside of the inner liner 56.

The inner end of a flexible dispensing tube 61 is tightly Y fitted on the outside of the ferrule 60. The outer end4 of the llexible tube 61 is sealed, and the sealed outer end is cut ott to permit milk, or other liquid, in the container 56 to be dispensed through a manually operated valve means (not shown), in the sarne manner as heretofore described with' reference to the iiexible tube 27. VThebottorn wall 42 is provided with an opening 62 through 'which the ferrule 60 and attached dispensing tube 61 extends into the compartment 45.

As best shown in FIGS. 8, 6 and 7, the bottom portion 64 of the front wall 38 is indented to form an inverted U-shaped retaining means 65 for the dispensing tube 61. As shown in FIG. 6, the dispensing tube 61 is bent Y Y Y back upon itself in inverted U-shape and pushed into the retaining means 65. As the dispensing tube 61 is-madf:

of flexible material, the tube 61 when bent back upon itself in inverted U-shape andV pushed into the retaining means 65 will cling snugly to the inner walls of theretaining means 65.

The disposable inner liner 56 is similar to the inner liner 23 for the carrier il, and, correspondingly,-after the liner 56 has been filled with Huid, such as milk,.the top vided with a dispensing tube adaptable for use in a milk dispenser cabinet, it is obvious that the dispensing means at the bottom of the inner liner may be omitted, and that my improved carrier and single use iiexible inner linerV container may bevutilized as packaging meansV for the transportation of liquids, `semi-liquids such as ice cream mix, finely divided solid materials, etc.

I do not desire to limit myself to the specific details of construction as herein set forth, as it is obvious that vari-3 ous modifications may be made therein without depart` v ing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

' Iclaim: y y

1. Liquid transportation and dispensing means comprising a unitary reuseable open top outer carrier of polygonal side configuration; said outer carrier being formed of rigid plastic material; the upper portion of thev vertical sides of said outer carrier having slightlyy greater inside horizontal dimensions than the outside horizontal dimensions of the lower portion of said vertical sides of said outer carrier, said upper and lower portions of said outer carrier being of congruent configuration; whereby a plurality of said outer carriers are adapted to be nested one within the other when empty; an integral transverse wall adjacent to and spaced from the bottom of said outer carrier, forming a bottom compartment in said outer carrier; a disposable single use flexible inner liner container, formed from a film of non-porous polyethylene, positioned within said reuseable outer carrier, the bottom of said flexible inner. liner container being in contact with said transverse wall of said outer carrier, and the top of said inner liner container extending to the top of said outer carrier, said flexible inner liner container being of such a size that, when filled, it will substantially fill the inside of said outer carrier; means closing the upper end of said flexible inner liner container when filled; a nipple attached in fluid tight relationship with the bottom portion of said flexible inner liner container, said nipple having an opening therethrough in open communication with the inside of the bottom portion of said flexible inner liner container; a flexible dispensing tube tightly fitted on the outside of said nipple; an opening in said transverse wall, and through which said ferrule and said flexible dispensing tube extend into said bottom compartment of said outer carrier; a top closure for said outer carrier adapted to fit snugly on the uppermost portion of said outer carrier; and matching hand hole openings in the upper portion of said outer carrier and said top closure, whereby, said top closure and said outer carrier with its inner liner container filled with liquid may be facilely handled manually.

2. Liquid transportation and dispensing means comprising a unitary reuseable open top outer carrier of substantially rectangular configuration; said outer carrier being formed of rigid plastic material; the upper portion of the vertical sides of said outer carrier having slightly greater inside horizontal dimensions than the outside horizontal dimensions of the lower portion of said vertical sides of said outer carrier, said upper and lower portions of said outer carrier being of congruent configuration; whereby, a plurality of said outer carriers are adapted to be nested one within the other when empty; an integral transverse wall adjacent to and spaced from the bottom of said outer carrier, forming a bottom compartment in said outer carrier; a disposable single use flexible inner liner container, formed from a film of non-porous flexible material, positioned within said reuseable outer carrier, the bottom of said flexible inner liner container being in contact with said transverse wall of said outer carrier, and the top of said inner liner container extending to the top of said outer carrier, said flexible inner liner container being of such a size that, when filled, it will substantially fill the inside of said outer carrier; means closing the upper end of said flexible inner liner container when filled; a nipple attached in fluid tight relationship with the bottom portion of said flexible inner liner container, said nipple having an opening therethrough in open communication with i the inside of the bottom portion of said flexible inner liner container; a flexible dispensing tube tightly fitted on the outside of said nipple; closure means for the outer end of said flexible dispensing tube; an opening in said transverse wall, and through which said ferrule and said flexible dispensing tube extend into said bottom compartment of said outer carrier; atop closure for said outer carrier adapted to fit snugly on the uppermost portion of said outer carrier; indented portions formed in two opposite walls of said outer carrier; and matching hand hole openings in the upper portion of said indented walls of said outer carrier and in said top closure; whereby, said top closure and said outer carrier with its inner liner container filled with liquid may be facilely handled manually.

3. Liquid transportation and dispensing means comprising a unitary reuseable open top outer carrier of substantially rectangular configuration; said outer carrier being formed of rigid plastic material; the upper portion of the vertical sidesdofV said outer carrier havingv slightly greater inside horizontal dimensions than the outside horizontal dimensions ofthe lower portion of said vertical sides of said outer carrier, said upper and lower portions of said outer carrier being offcongruent configuration; wherebya plurality of said outer carriers are adapted to benested one within the other when empty; an integral transverse wall adjacent to and spaced from the bottom of said outer carrier, forming a bottom compartment in said outer carrier; a disposable single use flexible inner liner container, formed from a film of non-porous polyethylene, positioned within said reuseable outer carrier, the bottom of said flexible inner liner container being in contact with said transverse wall of said outer carrier, and the top of said inner liner container extending to the top vof said outer carrier, said flexible inner liner container being of such a size that, when filled, it will substantially fill the inside of said outer carrier; means closing the upper end of said flexible inner liner container when filled; a nipple attached in fluid tight relationship with the bottom portion of said flexible inner liner container, said nipple having an opening therethrough in open communication with the inside of the bottom portion of said flexible inner liner container; a flexible dispensing tube tightly fitted on the outside of said nipple; closure means for the outer end of said flexible tube; an opening in said transverse wall, and

through which said ferrule and said flexible dispensing tube extend into said bottom compartment of said outer carrier; pocket means formed in said bottom compartment for confningly protecting said flexible dispensing tube when coiled up during transportation; a top closure for said outer carrier adapted to fit snugly on the uppermost portion of said outer carrier; indented portions formed in two opposite walls of said outer carrier; and matching hand hole openings in the upper portion of said indented walls of said outer carrier and in said top closure, whereby, said top-closure and said outer carrier with its inner liner container filled with liquid may be facilely handled manually.

4. Liquid transportation and dispensing means comprising a unitary reuseable open top outer carrier of polygonal side configuration; said outer carrier being formed of rigid plastic material; the upper portion of the vertical sides of said outer carrier having slightly greater inside horizontal dimensions than the outside horizontal dimensions of the lower portion of said vertical sides of said outer carrier, said upper and lower portions of said outer carrier being of congruent configuration; whereby, a plurality of said outer carriers are adapted to be nested one within the other when empty; an integral transverse wall adjacent to andspaced from the bottom of said outer carrier, forming a bottom compartment in said outer carrier; a disposable single use flexible inner liner container, formed from a film of non-porous polyethylene, positioned within said reuseable outer carrier; the bottom of said flexible linner liner container being in contact with said transverse wall of said outer carrier; and the top of said inner liner container extending to the top of said outer carrier, said flexible inner liner container being of such a size that, when filled, it will substantially fill the inside of said outer carrier; means closing the upper end of said flexible inner liner container when filled; a nipple attached in fluid tight relationship with the bottom portion of said flexible inner liner container, said nipple having an opening therethrough in open communication with the inside of the bottom portion of said flexible inner liner container; a flexible dispensing tube tightly fitted on the outside of said nipple; closure means for the outer end of said flexible tube; an opening in said transverse wall, and through which said ferrule and said flexible dispensing tube extend into said bottom compartment of said outer carrier; a top closure for said outer carrier adapted to fit snugly on the in two opposite walls of said outer carrier; matching hand holeropenings in the upper portion of said indented Walls of said outer carrier and in said top closure, whereby, said top closure and said outer carrier with its inner liner container filled with liquid may be facilelyhandled manually;

' References Cited in the file of this patent'V UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Bailey July 13, 1948 Hill Aug. -12, 1952 Dennie Apr. 22, 1958 Cook Mar. 20, 1962 Meinecke et al Feb. 19, 1963 

1. LIQUID TRANSPORTATION AND DISPENSING MEANS COMPRISING A UNITARY REUSEABLE OPEN TOP OUTER CARRRIER OF POLYGONAL SIDE CONFIGURATION; SAID OUTER CARRIER BEING FORMED OF RIGID PLASTIC MATERIAL; THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VERTICLE SIDES OF SAID OUTER CARRIER HAVING SLIGHTLY GREATER INSIDE HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS THAN THE OUTSIDE HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS OF THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID VERTICAL SIDES OF SAID OUTER CARRIER, SAID UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID OUTER CARRIER BEING OF CONGRUENT CONFIGURATION; WHEREBY A PLURALITY OF SAID OUTER CARRIERS ARE ADAPTED TO BE NESTED ONE WITHIN THE OTHER WHEN EMPTY; AN INTEGRAL TRANSVERSE WALL ADJACENT TO AND SPACED FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID OUTER CARRIER, FORMING A BOTTOM COMPARTMENT IN SAID OUTER CARRIER; A DISPOSABLE SINGLE USE FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER, FORMED FROM A FILM OF NON-POROUS POLYETHYLENE, POSITIONED WITHIN SAID REUSEABLE OUTER CARRIER, THE BOTTOM OF SAID FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER BEING IN CONTACT WITH SAID TRANSVERSE WALL OF SAID OUTER CARRIER, AND THE TOP OF SAID INNER LINER CONTAINER EXTENDING TO THE TOP OF SAID OUTER CARRIER, SAID FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER BEING OF SUCH A SIZE THAT, WHEN FILLED, IT WILL SUBSTANTIALLY FILL THE INSIDE OF SAID OUTER CARRIER; MEANS CLOSING THE UPPER END OF SAID FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER WHEN FILLED ; A NIPPLE ATTACHED IN FLUID TIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER, SAID NIPPLE HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID FLEXIBLE INNER LINER CONTAINER; A FLEXIBLE DISPENSING TUBE TIGHTLY FITTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID NIPPLE; AN OPENING IN SAID TRANSVERSE WALL, AND THROUGH WHICH SAID FERRULE AND SAID FLEXIBLE DISPENSING TUBE EXTNED INTO SAID BOTTOM COMPARTMENT OF SAID OUTER CARRIER; A TOP CLOSURE FOR SAID OUTER CARRIER ADAPTED TO FIT SNUGLY ON THE UPPERMOST PORTION OF SAID OUTER CARRIER; AND MATCHING HAND HOLE OPENINGS IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID OUTER CARRIER AND SAID TOP CLOSURE, WHREBY, SAID TOP CLOSURE AND SAID OUTER CARRIER WITH ITS INENERL LINER CONTAINER FILLED WITH LIQUID MAY BE FACILELY HANDLED MANUALLY. 